“We’ve realized that women can do what men can do.
The next leap?
Realizing that men can do what women can do.”
Gloria Steinem
When we get women out of boxes, we get men out of boxes too.
When I shared this quote on LinkedIn, I got over 100 comments listing ALL the things that men can do.
Here’s the crowdsourced list of all the things men can do
Men can take notes during meetings.
Men can plan work events.
Men can coordinate team building activities.
Men can send client gifts.
Men can write thank you notes.
Men can order team lunch.
Men can be empathetic managers.
Men can put in an online grocery order over their lunch hour.
Men can work from home with a sick kid.
Men can pack school lunches.
Men can organize play dates.
Men can have good handwriting.
Men can send thank you notes to teachers.
Men can plan birthday parties for kids.
Men can bake or order the birthday cakes.
Men can plan and follow-through with family activities.
Men can be loving parents.
Men can iron.
Men can bake cookies with the kids.
Men can clean the house.
Men can take time off work to collect kids from school.
Men can take time off to take care of sick kids.
Men can go to kids’ parties.
Men can babywear during meetings.
Men can hire nannies.
Men can make coffee.
Men can plan weddings.
Men can grocery shop.
Men can distribute post-meeting notes.
Men can bake bread.
Men can brush hair.
Men can manage childcare schedules.
Men can do preschool dropoff and pickup.
Men can build community.
Men can take paternity leave.
Men can have guys nights out.
Men can bring daughters to work events.
Men can create holiday magic.
Men can plan family pictures.
Men can organize family vacations.
Men can manage kids’ appointments.
Men can be stay-at-home parents.
I’ve seen firsthand what men can do
I’m lucky enough to have a partner who has taken the stay-at-home parent shift for the last four years. We’re almost out of the young child stage, so it won’t be this way forever.
But I think it’s the best thing we’ve done to teach our children about gender equality.
Just because things have always been done a certain way—read, a “gendered” way—in your workplace, your community, or your home, doesn’t mean that’s the only way it can be done.
I’ll end with another quote from Gloria:
“Once men realize that gender roles are a prison for them too, they become really valuable allies. Because they’re not just helping someone else, they’re freeing themselves.”
Thanks to Allison Cross, Julia Angelen Joy, Dr. Shawanda Stockfelt, Nicki Ryder, Emily Smith, and others for adding to the list!
Learn 7 ways to be a better male ally at work—today.
Rachel Cottam 